2005 vintage. Almost tastes like it could have been released last week. Super youthful with dark berry and plum blasts. Decent structure but not oppressive. Catching this one just below the top of the bell curve. Hopefully, you’ve got more than one bottle kicking around on a piece of ground in your hometown. Other-worldly now but methinx it’s about to get even better. Last tasted in mid-June and same score but this bottle was slightly better. Seek this out-now. — 2 years ago
Enjoyed with Alex, Arlene, and Bre — 2 months ago
On the nose lots of fruits blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry flowers by backing spices, leather, and ground pepper. And the same follows on the pallet. Very dry for me normally not a Grenache fan but this is yummy for sure. — 8 months ago
Smooth, buttery but not flat. Not too fruity. Would drink again — 3 years ago
After a 2 weeks pause for (very mild) health reasons I thought it would be good to pop a bottle I had kept on the side for such occasion.
Cola, cherry, hay and an irony thing one the nose, very inviting. The palate is superlative. Massive acid backbone, superb juicy cherry fruit all along, great width, soft mouthfeel, a little bit of cherry liqueur on the sides too, ample mid palate with a slight drying effect like a subtle brush and a finish with those same cherry juice and cherry liqueur notes. This is so beautiful... — 3 years ago
Deep ruby color.
Aromas of tomato leaf, black cherry, floral, spice.
Dry. Flavors of black cherry, cocoa, freshly ground black pepper, leather. Rich, smooth tannins.
Intensity: 5/5
Complexity: 4/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 4/5 — 4 months ago
The 2019 Opus One shows off the more opulent side of the vintage to great effect. Sumptuous dark fruit, spice and floral accents wrap around the palate, with a fair amount of new oak adding volume and exotic flair. This is an especially showy Opus One that will drink well with minimal cellaring. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2023)
— a year ago
Bold notes of plum, ground pepper leathery notes with dusty, mouth drying tannins and a medium to heavy body, this was really a good blend for the smokehouse at the resort. — 3 years ago
Shay A
Every time I have a wine from Pierre Gonon, I know it’s going to hit every note I’m looking for. These wines are absolutely delicious and are exactly what I love to drink.
First time with a slightly older bottle of Iles Feray and I’d say this is in the perfect zone. Very much in the vein of the StJo with the dark florals and herbal aromatics (just stemmy enough to show it’s there, but not as much as the StJo). Peppered raspberries and blackberries, green stems on the mid-palate. Great texture/weight. Granite and iron show early on. Tannin structure is in the middle ground…holds everything together but isn’t a beast. Not as layered as the StJo, but still so enjoyable to drink when wanting a beautiful, pure expression of Syrah.
Followed over a few days and stayed consistent. I’d buy a bunch of this if prices for these wines weren’t as high as they’ve been the last few years. — 13 days ago